ALINET: neural net automatic alignment of high-energy laser resonator optical elements

George A. Hart; Adam W. Bailey; Louis J. Palumbo; Michael Kuperstein

doi:10.1117/12.160406

15 October 1993 ALINET: neural net automatic alignment of high-energy laser resonator optical elements

George A. Hart, Adam W. Bailey, Louis J. Palumbo, Michael Kuperstein

Proceedings Volume 1996, Optical Alignment; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.160406
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A novel neural net approach has successfully solved the time consuming practical problem of aligning the many optical elements used in the resonator of high power chemical lasers. Moreover, because the neural net can achieve optimal performance in only 2 - 4 steps, as compared with 50 for other techniques, the important ability to effect real time control is gained. This represents a significant experimental breakthrough because of the difficulty previously associated with this alignment process. Use of either near or far field image information produces excellent performance. The method is very robust in the presence of noise. For cases where the initial misalignment falls outside the regime encompassed by the training set, a hybrid approach utilizing an advanced conventional method can bring the optical system within the capture range of the neural net. This reported use of a neural net to rapidly convert imagery information into high precision control information is of broad applicability to optical, acoustic, or electromagnetic alignment, positioning, and control problems.

Citation Download Citation

George A. Hart, Adam W. Bailey, Louis J. Palumbo, and Michael Kuperstein "ALINET: neural net automatic alignment of high-energy laser resonator optical elements", Proc. SPIE 1996, Optical Alignment, (15 October 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.160406

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